GTE Directories Launches Log on to Literacy Donation Program on SuperPages.com

GTE's SuperPages.com
online donation program gives consumers an easy way to contribute to literacy

DALLAS, Texas - GTE Directories is leveraging its position as a leader in online directory services to promote literacy through an online donation program on GTE's SuperPages.com (http://www.superpages.com). "Log on to Literacy," which kicked off on Dec. 1, enables consumers to make an online donation on SuperPages.com to support local and national reading and book donation programs. Consumers can access the literacy donation program from the SuperPages.com home page.

"Log on to Literacy" will help support GTE Reads, a public charity established earlier this year by GTE Corporation, dedicated to distributing funds to existing national, state and community-based literacy organizations. Through SuperPages.com and the recently announced bill donation program, GTE expects to raise millions of dollars in the United States for literacy. Continuing their 10-year history of supporting literacy causes, GTE will match the first $1 million donated to GTE Reads, in addition to its yearly contributions to literacy.

"As a champion of literacy, GTE wants to give consumers anywhere in the country an additional and easy channel to support the cause," stated Earl Goode, president of GTE Directories Corporation, creator of SuperPages.com. "With more than 100 million Americans using the Internet, we've identified another way to support adult, child and family literacy programs throughout the United States."

For millions of Americans - and their children - low literacy skills mean fewer opportunities. Whether for education, jobs, or community involvement, reading is the foundation for success in life and a crucial skill that many in our communities struggle with every day.

According to the National Institute for Literacy:

More than 20% of adults read at or below fifth-grade level -- far below what is necessary to earn a living wage.

The links between illiteracy and the incidence of crime and economic deprivation are acutely disturbing. Seventy percent of prison inmates score in the lowest levels of literacy test. Forty-three percent of Americans with the lowest literacy skills live in poverty; 70 percent have only part-time jobs, or are unemployed.

One million American children between the ages of 12 and 17 cannot read or are at least three years behind their grade level.

Children whose parents participate in adult literacy programs improve their own reading skills, grades and test scores, and are more likely to stay in school.

"We believe people want to make an impact on the literacy issues in America," said Goode. "We hope that the efforts of GTE will bring awareness and the resources necessary to help solve the literacy problem in this country."

Donations collected through the "Log on to Literacy" program will be added to those collected from GTE's "Check Into Literacy" program, a telephone bill donation check-off program. GTE Reads will distribute these funds back into the cities or regions from which they were donated through hundreds of national and local literacy organizations. In this way, donors to GTE Reads will know that their efforts will help their own communities.

About SuperPages.com Service and GTE Directories Corporation

With more than 12 million businesses listed and tens of thousands of advertisers, SuperPages.com, created by GTE Directories Corporation, is a rich, comprehensive shopping resource designed for people who want the convenience of finding information and purchasing products and services online. A leading Internet Yellow Pages and shopping site, SuperPages.com has received as many as 25.7 million cumulative unique visitors from January through October, according to Media Metrix. SuperPages.com has conducted as many as 13.4 million Yellow Pages searches per month. GTE Directories Corporation is a part of GTE Corporation, one of the world's largest telecommunications companies and a leading provider of integrated telecommunications services.

About GTE Reads and GTE Corporation's Literacy Effort

GTE's community and philanthropic programs target excellence in education, particularly math, science, technology and literacy. GTE also supports job training, delivery of health and human services, and the arts. The company's newest program is GTE Reads, a public charity designed to create public awareness, increase fundraising and support organizations dedicated to improving America's literacy levels. GTE customers can contribute to GTE Reads by checking off a box on their bill. Others can contribute through GTE SuperPages.com.